JP2011145196A

JP2011145196A - Distance measuring device

Info

Publication number: JP2011145196A
Application number: JP2010006841A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Mitsunori Kono; 実則河野; Kiminori Kono; 公則河野
Original assignee: RCS Co Ltd
Current assignee: RCS Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-01-15
Filing date: 2010-01-15
Publication date: 2011-07-28

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distance measuring device for accurately measuring a relative distance at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: A distance between an interrogator 101 and a transponder 102 is measured with high accuracy by: sending a radio signal including a first distance measurement signal from the interrogator 101; receiving the radio signal by a first antenna 25a of the transponder 102 to reproduce the first distance measurement signal; forming a second measurement signal by dividing the frequency; reflecting or absorbing the radio signal by a second antenna 25b to resend an ASK-modulated radio signal; receiving the signal by the interrogator 101 to reproduce the second measurement signal; and measuring the phase of the reproduced second measurement signal on the basis of the first measurement signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

この発明は、無線信号を用いて質問器とトランスポンダとの間で双方向通信を行うことによって、距離を高精度で測定するための距離測定装置に関するものである。
The present invention relates to a distance measuring device for measuring a distance with high accuracy by performing two-way communication between an interrogator and a transponder using a radio signal.

従来から、質問器から発信される無線信号を、トランスポンダを用いて中継し、質問器で受信することによって、質問器とトランスポンダとの間の距離を測定する装置が提案されている。（例えば、特許文献１〜６参照）
特表２００４−５０７７１４号公報ＷＯ２００６／０９５４６３号公報特開Ｈ０６−００３４２８号公報 Conventionally, an apparatus for measuring a distance between an interrogator and a transponder by relaying a radio signal transmitted from the interrogator using a transponder and receiving the interrogator is proposed. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 to 6)
JP-T-2004-507714 WO 2006/095463 JP H06-003428 A

図９は、特許文献１に記載されている従来の「ＲＦ位相デルタの判定による距離測定」である。図９において、第１のトランスポンダから第２のトランスポンダへ、第１と第２の周波数の第１と第２の信号を送信する。前記第２信号は、前記第１信号と比較し、そして前記第１と第２のトランスポンダ間の距離は、前記第１および第２の信号間の位相差に基づき判定するとされている。
しかしながら、前記第１と第２の周波数の第１と第２の信号は、伝搬時間が同じであるために、位相差が生じず、距離が測定できない問題点がある。 FIG. 9 is a conventional “distance measurement based on determination of RF phase delta” described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. 9, the first and second signals of the first and second frequencies are transmitted from the first transponder to the second transponder. The second signal is compared with the first signal, and the distance between the first and second transponders is determined based on the phase difference between the first and second signals.
However, since the first and second signals of the first and second frequencies have the same propagation time, there is a problem that a phase difference does not occur and the distance cannot be measured.

また、特許文献２では、送信制御部７Ｂは、タグ応答信号の送信を要求するＲ／Ｗ要求信号をＲＦＩＤタグ１に対して２回送信するように制御する。この際に、周波数制御部７Ａは、各Ｒ／Ｗ要求信号を互いに異なる搬送周波数で送信するようにＰＬＬ部５Ａを制御する。位相情報取得部８Ａは、互いに異なる搬送周波数で送信されたタグ応答信号の位相の変化量をそれぞれ検出し、この位相の変化量に基づいて距離算出部８Ｂが、リーダライタ２とＲＦＩＤタグ１との距離を算出するとされている。
しかしながら、前記第１と第２の周波数の第１と第２の信号は、伝搬時間が同じであるために、位相差が生じず、距離が測定できない問題点がある。 Further, in Patent Document 2, the transmission control unit 7B performs control so that an R / W request signal for requesting transmission of a tag response signal is transmitted to the RFID tag 1 twice. At this time, the frequency control unit 7A controls the PLL unit 5A so as to transmit each R / W request signal at a different carrier frequency. The phase information acquisition unit 8A detects the amount of change in the phase of the tag response signal transmitted at different carrier frequencies, and the distance calculation unit 8B determines whether the reader / writer 2 and the RFID tag 1 It is supposed to calculate the distance.
However, since the first and second signals of the first and second frequencies have the same propagation time, there is a problem that a phase difference does not occur and the distance cannot be measured.

また、特許文献３では、一つの移動局からの第１の測定用信号を親局と複数の中継局で受信すると共に各中継局は重複しない固有の遅延時間後に第２の測定用信号を同一周波数で送信し、親局が移動局からの第１の測定信号と中継局からの第２の測定用信号とを受信してその到達時間差または位相差を測定することにより第１の測定用信号を親局が受信した時刻と各中継局が受信した時刻との相対時間差を算出して双曲線航法により移動局の位置を算出するように構成するとされている。
しかしながら、各中継局において、重複しない固有の遅延時間後に第２の測定用信号を同一周波数で送信すると記述されているが、具体的な構成および方法が記述されておらず、実現性の点で問題がある。
In Patent Document 3, the first measurement signal from one mobile station is received by the master station and a plurality of relay stations, and the second measurement signal is the same after a unique delay time that does not overlap each other. The first measurement signal is transmitted by transmitting at a frequency, and the master station receives the first measurement signal from the mobile station and the second measurement signal from the relay station and measures the arrival time difference or phase difference. The relative time difference between the time at which the master station received and the time at which each relay station received is calculated, and the position of the mobile station is calculated by hyperbolic navigation.
However, although it is described in each relay station that the second measurement signal is transmitted at the same frequency after a unique delay time that does not overlap, a specific configuration and method are not described, and in terms of feasibility There's a problem.

この発明は、無線信号を用いて質問器とトランスポンダとの間で双方向通信を行うことによって、質問器とトランスポンダとの間の相対距離を高精度で測定するための距離測定装置を安価に実現するためのものである。
This invention realizes a low-cost distance measuring device for measuring the relative distance between the interrogator and the transponder with high accuracy by performing two-way communication between the interrogator and the transponder using a radio signal. Is to do.

この発明に係わる距離測定装置では、質問器から距離測定要求信号を含む無線信号をバースト信号として発信し、トランスポンダが相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナと第２のアンテナとを有し、前記質問器から発信される無線信号を第１のアンテナを介して受信し、受信した無線信号から前記第１の測定信号を再生し、少なくとも、前記第１の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記第２の測定信号に対応して第２のアンテナを短絡し、あるいは整合するインピーダンスで終端し、 In the distance measuring apparatus according to the present invention, a radio signal including a distance measurement request signal is transmitted as a burst signal from the interrogator, and the transponder includes a first antenna and a second antenna that have a small coupling between each other, A radio signal transmitted from the interrogator is received via the first antenna, the first measurement signal is reproduced from the received radio signal, and at least a second signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the first measurement signal. And a second antenna corresponding to the second measurement signal is short-circuited or terminated with a matching impedance,

前記質問器から受信した無線信号を反射させあるいは吸収させて、前記第２の測定信号を含む無線信号を再発信し、前記質問器が、前記トランスポンダから再発信された、前記第２の測定測定信号を含む無線信号を受信し、受信した無線信号から前記第２の測定信号を再生して前記第１の測定信号から分離し、前記質問器の制御手段が、前記自局で生成した第１の測定信号を基準として、前記再生された第２の測定信号の位相を、高精度でかつリアルタイムで測定し、前記位相の測定結果から、前記質問器とトランスポンダとの間の距離を算出することができる。
Reflecting or absorbing a radio signal received from the interrogator and retransmitting a radio signal including the second measurement signal, wherein the interrogator is retransmitted from the transponder. A wireless signal including a signal is received, the second measurement signal is reproduced from the received wireless signal and separated from the first measurement signal, and the control unit of the interrogator generates the first signal generated by the own station. The phase of the reproduced second measurement signal is measured with high accuracy and in real time with reference to the measurement signal, and the distance between the interrogator and the transponder is calculated from the measurement result of the phase. Can do.

本発明の距離測定装置では、無線信号を用いて質問器とトランスポンダとの間で双方向通信を行うことによって、質問器とトランスポンダとの間の相対距離を高精度で測定するための距離測定装置を安価に実現できる。
In the distance measuring apparatus of the present invention, a distance measuring apparatus for measuring the relative distance between the interrogator and the transponder with high accuracy by performing two-way communication between the interrogator and the transponder using a radio signal. Can be realized at low cost.

この発明に係わる距離測定装置は、図１、図６および請求項１に本発明の第１の実施の形態を示すように、無線信号を用いた距離測定装置において、無線信号１８を発信し、かつ無線信号１９を受信するための質問器１０１と、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を受信し、かつ無線信号１９を再発信するためのトランスポンダ１０２とから構成され、 The distance measuring apparatus according to the present invention transmits a radio signal 18 in a distance measuring apparatus using a radio signal, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention, And an interrogator 101 for receiving the radio signal 19, and a transponder 102 for receiving the radio signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 and retransmitting the radio signal 19,

前記トランスポンダ１０２が、少なくとも、受信手段２１と、発信手段２２と、制御手段２４と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとを有し、前記受信手段２１が、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を第１のアンテナ２５ａを介して受信し、受信した無線信号１８から第１の測定信号を再生し、前記制御手段２４が、少なくとも、前記再生した第１の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段２２が、前記生成した第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信し、 The transponder 102 includes at least a receiving means 21, a transmitting means 22, a control means 24, and a first antenna 25a and a second antenna 25b whose coupling between each other is small. The wireless signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 is received via the first antenna 25a, the first measurement signal is reproduced from the received wireless signal 18, and the control means 24 at least reproduces the reproduced first signal. Generating a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to one measurement signal, and the transmitting means 22 retransmits the radio signal 19 including the generated second measurement signal;

前記質問器１０１が、少なくとも、発信手段１１と、受信手段１２と、局発信号発振器１３と、制御手段１４と、前記制御手段１４に含まれる距離算出手段９３と位相測定手段９４と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナアンテナ１５ｂとを有し、前記制御手段１４が、少なくとも前記第１の測定信号を含む距離測定要求信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記制御手段１４が生成した距離測定要求信号によって、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調された無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて発信し、 The interrogator 101 includes at least a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, a local oscillation signal oscillator 13, a control unit 14, a distance calculation unit 93 and a phase measurement unit 94 included in the control unit 14. The first antenna 15a and the second antenna antenna 15b, the control means 14 generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal, the transmission means 11 The local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator 13 is modulated by the distance measurement request signal generated by the control means 14, and the modulated radio signal 18 is directed to the space via the first antenna 15a. Outgoing,

前記受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信される前記第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を、前記第２のアンテナ１５ｂを介して受信し、前記受信した無線信号１９から前記第２の測定信号を選択して再生し、前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４が、前記自局で生成した第１の測定信号を基準として、前記分離しかつ再生された第２の測定信号の位相を、高精度でかつリアルタイムで測定し、前記位相の測定結果から、前記制御手段１４に含まれる距離算出手段９３が前記トランスポンダ１０２までの距離を高精度で算出する。 The receiving means 12 receives a radio signal 19 including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder 102 via the second antenna 15b, and receives the second radio signal 19 from the received radio signal 19 The measurement signal is selected and reproduced, and the phase measurement means 94 included in the control means 14 uses the first measurement signal generated by the local station as a reference and the second measurement signal separated and reproduced. The phase is measured with high accuracy in real time, and the distance calculation means 93 included in the control means 14 calculates the distance to the transponder 102 with high accuracy from the measurement result of the phase.

また、図１、図７および請求項２に本発明の第２の実施の形態を示すように、前記トランスポンダ１０２が、少なくとも、受信手段２１と、発信手段２２と、制御手段２４と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとを有し、前記受信手段２１が、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を第１のアンテナを介して受信し、受信した無線信号１８から第１の測定信号を再生し、前記制御手段２４が、少なくとも、前記再生した第１の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段２２が、前記生成された第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信し、 As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 7 and claim 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the transponder 102 includes at least receiving means 21, transmitting means 22, control means 24, and The first antenna 25a and the second antenna 25b are coupled to each other, and the receiving means 21 receives and receives the radio signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 via the first antenna. The first measurement signal is reproduced from the radio signal 18, the control means 24 generates at least a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced first measurement signal, and the transmission means 22 includes: Retransmit the radio signal 19 including the generated second measurement signal;

前記受信手段２１が、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を第１のアンテナを介して受信し、受信した無線信号１８から第３の測定信号を再生し、前記制御手段２４が、少なくとも、前記再生した第３の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第４の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段２２が、前記生成された第４の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信し、 The receiving means 21 receives a radio signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 via a first antenna, reproduces a third measurement signal from the received radio signal 18, and the control means 24 includes at least Generating a fourth measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced third measurement signal, and the transmitting means 22 retransmits the radio signal 19 including the generated fourth measurement signal,

前記質問器１０１が、少なくとも、発信手段１１と、受信手段１２と、局発信号発振器１３と、制御手段１４と、前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４と同期発振器９５と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナアンテナ１５ｂとを有し、前記制御手段１４が、少なくとも前記第１の測定信号を含む距離測定要求信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記制御手段１４が生成した距離測定要求信号によって、前記局発信号発振器から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調した無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて発信し、 The interrogator 101 includes at least a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, a local oscillation signal oscillator 13, a control unit 14, a phase measurement unit 94 and a synchronous oscillator 95 included in the control unit 14, and The control unit 14 generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal, and the transmission unit 11 includes the first antenna 15a and the second antenna antenna 15b having a small coupling. The local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator is modulated by the distance measurement request signal generated by the control means 14, and the modulated radio signal 18 is transmitted toward the space via the first antenna 15a. ,

前記受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信される前記第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を、前記第２のアンテナ１５ｂを介して受信し、前記受信した無線信号１９から前記第２の測定信号を選択して再生し、前記制御手段１４に含まれる同期発振器９５が、前記再生した第２の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第３の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記生成した第３の測定信号によって、前記局発信号発振器から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調した無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて再発信し、 The receiving means 12 receives a radio signal 19 including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder 102 via the second antenna 15b, and receives the second radio signal 19 from the received radio signal 19 A measurement signal is selected and reproduced, and a synchronous oscillator 95 included in the control unit 14 generates a third measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced second measurement signal. The local measurement signal supplied from the local oscillation signal oscillator is modulated by the generated third measurement signal, and the modulated radio signal 18 is retransmitted toward the space via the first antenna 15a.

前記受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信される前記第４の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を、前記第２のアンテナ１５ｂを介して受信し、前記受信した無線信号から前記第４の測定信号を選択して再生し、前記質問器１０１とトランスポンダ１０２との間で、上記のシーケンスを複数回繰返えし、前記質問器１０１の制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４が、自局において最初に生成した第１の測定信号を基準として、前記分離しかつ再生された第２ｎの測定信号の位相を、高精度でかつリアルタイムで測定し、前記位相の測定結果から、前記制御手段１４に含まれる距離算出手段９３が前記トランスポンダ１０２までの距離を高精度で算出する。 The receiving means 12 receives the radio signal 19 including the fourth measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder 102 via the second antenna 15b, and uses the received radio signal to perform the fourth measurement. A signal is selected and reproduced, the above sequence is repeated a plurality of times between the interrogator 101 and the transponder 102, and the phase measuring means 94 included in the control means 14 of the interrogator 101 The phase of the separated and regenerated second n measurement signal is measured with high accuracy and in real time on the basis of the first measurement signal generated first in step, and the control means 14 determines from the phase measurement result. The distance calculation means 93 included in the above calculates the distance to the transponder 102 with high accuracy.

また、図２および請求項３に示すように、前記トランスポンダ１０２の制御手段２４が、前記受信手段２１によって再生した第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号をゼロ交差検出器７３を用いてデジタル信号に変換し、前記変換したデジタル信号を分周器もしくはカウンタ７４を用いて整数分の１に分周し、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記トランスポンダ１０２の発信手段２２が、前記生成した第２ｎの測定信号に対応して、前記第２のアンテナ２５ｂを短絡し、あるいは整合するインピーダンスで終端し、前記質問器１０１から受信する無線信号１８を反射させあるいは吸収させて、前記第２ｎの測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信する。 Further, as shown in FIG. 2 and claim 3, the control means 24 of the transponder 102 converts the (2n−1) th measurement signal regenerated by the receiving means 21 into a digital signal using a zero-crossing detector 73. Convert, divide the converted digital signal by an integer using a frequency divider or counter 74, and generate a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the (2n-1) th measurement signal Then, the transmitting means 22 of the transponder 102 short-circuits the second antenna 25b or terminates with matching impedance corresponding to the generated 2n measurement signal, and receives from the interrogator 101. The signal 18 is reflected or absorbed, and the radio signal 19 including the 2nth measurement signal is retransmitted.

また、図３および請求項４に示すように、前記トランスポンダ１０２の発信手段２２が、前記第１のアンテナ２５ａで受信した無線信号１８を増幅し、前記増幅した無線信号を前記制御手段２４が生成した第２ｎの測定信号によって変調し、前記変調した無線信号１９を第２のアンテナ２５ｂを介して再発信する。 As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmitting means 22 of the transponder 102 amplifies the radio signal 18 received by the first antenna 25a, and the control means 24 generates the amplified radio signal. The modulated radio signal 19 is retransmitted via the second antenna 25b.

また、図６、図７、および請求項５に示すように、前記質問器１０１の発信手段１１が、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を、前記距離測定要求信号によって、振幅変調、周波数変調、位相変調、もしくはこれらの組み合わせを行なう。
また、請求項６に示すように、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、搬送波信号、副搬送波信号、変調信号、スペクトル拡散符号、ベースバンド信号、もしくはこれらの組合せである。 In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 5, the transmission means 11 of the interrogator 101 generates a local oscillation signal supplied from the local oscillation signal oscillator 13 according to the distance measurement request signal. Modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation, or a combination thereof.
In addition, as described in claim 6, the (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them are a carrier signal, a subcarrier signal, a modulation signal, a spread spectrum code, and a baseband signal. Or a combination thereof.

また、請求項７に示すように、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、単一周波数のアナログ信号、あるいは単一チップレートのデジタル信号である。
また、図２、図３、図６、図７、および請求項８に示すように、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、無線信号の搬送波信号あるいは副搬送波信号である場合には、直接、群遅延歪みの少ない帯域通過フイルタを通し、あるいは無線信号の搬送波信号あるいは副搬送波信号を変調した変調信号もしくは拡散符号である場合には、遅延誤差の少ないアナログ復調器もしくは高い周波数のクロック信号を用いた遅延誤差の少ないデジタル復調器によって復調した後に、前記帯域通過フイルタを通して再生する。 According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them are a single frequency analog signal or a single chip rate digital signal. .
In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, the (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them is a carrier wave of a radio signal. In the case of a signal or subcarrier signal, it directly passes through a band-pass filter with less group delay distortion, or in the case of a modulation signal or spread code obtained by modulating a carrier signal or subcarrier signal of a radio signal, a delay error After being demodulated by an analog demodulator with less delay or a digital demodulator with less delay error using a high frequency clock signal, the signal is reproduced through the band pass filter.

また、請求項９に示すように、前記質問器１０１の受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信された無線信号１９を受信して、周波数変換処理を行うための周波数変換処理手段を備え、前記無線信号１９をＩ信号とＱ信号とに変換する。
また、図７および請求項１０に示すように、前記質問器１０１の制御手段１４に含まれる同期発振器が、セットもしくはリセット付きのカウンタによって構成され、前記受信手段が再生した第２ｎの測定信号の立上り点、立下り点、もしくはゼロ交差点のタイミングでセットされあるいはリセットされ、前記受信手段１２が再生した第２ｎの測定信号を逓倍し、かつ前記第２ｎの測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を生成する。 Further, as shown in claim 9, the reception means 12 of the interrogator 101 includes a frequency conversion processing means for receiving the radio signal 19 retransmitted from the transponder 102 and performing frequency conversion processing, The radio signal 19 is converted into an I signal and a Q signal.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the synchronous oscillator included in the control means 14 of the interrogator 101 is constituted by a counter with a set or reset, and the 2nth measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means It is set or reset at the timing of the rising point, falling point, or zero crossing, and the second n measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means 12 is multiplied and synchronized with or orthogonal to the second n measurement signal ( 2n-1) measurement signals are generated.

また、図６、図７、および請求項１１に示すように、前記質問器１０１の位相測定手段９４が、前記第２の測定信号を４の整数倍の周波数でサンプリングし、かつ４ビット以上のアナログデジタル変換器を用いてデジタル信号に変換し、Ｓｉｎのルックアップテーブルとして０、１、０、−１、もしくは１、１、−１、−１、を用い、Ｃｏｓのルックアップテーブルとして１、０、−１、０もしくは１、−１、−１、１、を用い、前記変換したデジタル信号とルックアップテーブルとの積和演算を行い、リアルタイムで位相を測定する。 In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, the phase measurement unit 94 of the interrogator 101 samples the second measurement signal at a frequency that is an integral multiple of 4 and has 4 bits or more. Convert to digital signal using analog-to-digital converter, use 0, 1, 0, -1 or 1, 1, -1, -1 as Sin lookup table, 1 as Cos lookup table, Using 0, -1, 0 or 1, -1, -1, 1, the product-sum operation of the converted digital signal and the lookup table is performed, and the phase is measured in real time.

また、図４および請求項１２に示すように、前記トランスポンダ１０２の第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとが、ダイポールアンテナもしくはループアンテナであり、お互いに直交させてプリント基板１０３の表面に構成され、あるいはお互いに垂直方向に間隔を置いてプリント基板１０３の表面に構成される。
また、図５および請求項１３に示すように、前記プリント基板１０３の少なくとも裏面の一部もしくは全部に、プリントパターンを残し、メタライズし、あるいは金属板１０４を設けて地板とする。 As shown in FIG. 4 and claim 12, the first antenna 25a and the second antenna 25b of the transponder 102 are dipole antennas or loop antennas, and are orthogonal to each other on the surface of the printed circuit board 103. They are configured, or are formed on the surface of the printed circuit board 103 at intervals in the vertical direction.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 13, a printed pattern is left on at least a part or all of the back surface of the printed board 103, metallized, or a metal plate 104 is provided as a ground plate.

また、図２、図３、および請求項１４に示すように、前記トランスポンダのＤＣ電源を取得するために、前記トランスポンダの第１のアンテナ、第２のアンテナ、もしくはこれらの両方に整流手段を設け、あるいは内部電源もしくは外部電源を設ける。
また、請求項１５に示すように、前記質問器１０１の第１のアンテナ１５ａと、第２のアンテナ１５ｂとが高誘電率円偏波指向性セラミックアンテナである。 Also, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 14, in order to obtain the DC power of the transponder, rectification means is provided on the first antenna, the second antenna, or both of the transponder. Or, provide an internal power supply or an external power supply.
In addition, as shown in claim 15, the first antenna 15a and the second antenna 15b of the interrogator 101 are high dielectric constant circularly polarized directivity ceramic antennas.

また、請求項１６に示すように、前記質問器１０１がアンテナ共用器を有し、単一のアンテナを共用する。
また、請求項１７に示すように、前記質問器１０１、トランスポンダ１０２、もしくはこれらの両方の受信手段１２、２１が、無線信号１８、１９の伝搬経路の品質を検知する品質検知手段（記載せず）を有し、前記品質検知手段が、前記受信手段１２、２１において受信した無線信号１８、１９の電力あるいは信号対雑音比を測定した結果から回線品質を分析し、前記距離測定の結果をフイルタリングし、補正し、あるいは補完する。 In addition, as shown in claim 16, the interrogator 101 has an antenna duplexer and shares a single antenna.
In addition, as shown in claim 17, the interrogator 101, the transponder 102, or both of the receiving means 12 and 21 detect the quality of the propagation paths of the radio signals 18 and 19 (not described). ), And the quality detecting means analyzes the line quality from the result of measuring the power or signal-to-noise ratio of the radio signals 18 and 19 received by the receiving means 12 and 21, and the result of the distance measurement is filtered. Ring, correct, or complement.

また、請求項１８に示すように、前記質問器１０１において、前記第２ｎの測定信号を自局で生成して無線信号を発信手段１１によって変調し、前記変調した無線信号を受信手段１２によって直接受信し、あるいは前記第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナ１５ｂとを介して発信しかつ受信して距離を測定し、前記距離の測定結果から、前記質問器１０１によって生じる距離の測定誤差の補正値を求める。
また、請求項１９に示すように、前記トランスポンダ１０２において、少なくとも自局における遅延誤差もしくは距離の測定誤差に関する個別情報をメモリに記憶しており、前記質問器からの質問に応答し、前記個別情報を回答する。
Further, as shown in claim 18, in the interrogator 101, the 2n-th measurement signal is generated by the own station, a radio signal is modulated by the transmitting means 11, and the modulated radio signal is directly received by the receiving means 12. Receive, or transmit and receive via the first antenna 15a and the second antenna 15b, measure the distance, and correct the distance measurement error caused by the interrogator 101 from the distance measurement result Find the value.
In addition, as shown in claim 19, in the transponder 102, individual information regarding at least a delay error or a distance measurement error in the own station is stored in a memory, and in response to a question from the interrogator, the individual information To answer.

（実施の形態１）
図１および図６は本発明の第１の実施の形態による距離測定装置の構成図である。図１および図６において、１０１は質問器、１０２はトランスポンダ、１１は発信手段、１２は受信手段、１３は局発信号発振器、１４は制御手段、１５ａ、１５ｂはアンテナ、２１は受信手段、２２は発信手段、２４は制御手段、２５ａ、２５ｂはアンテナ、１８は下り方向の無線信号、１９は上り方向の無線信号、９４は前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段、９５は前記制御手段１４に含まれる距離算出手段である。 (Embodiment 1)
1 and 6 are configuration diagrams of a distance measuring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 6, 101 is an interrogator, 102 is a transponder, 11 is a transmission means, 12 is a reception means, 13 is a local signal oscillator, 14 is a control means, 15a and 15b are antennas, 21 is a reception means, 22 Is a transmission means, 24 is a control means, 25a and 25b are antennas, 18 is a downlink radio signal, 19 is an uplink radio signal, 94 is a phase measurement means included in the control means 14, and 95 is the control means 14 It is the distance calculation means contained in.

無線信号を用いた距離測定装置において、無線信号１８を発信し、かつ無線信号１９を受信するための質問器１０１と、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を受信し、かつ無線信号１９を再発信するためのトランスポンダ１０２とから構成され、 In the distance measuring device using a radio signal, the interrogator 101 for transmitting the radio signal 18 and receiving the radio signal 19, the radio signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101, and the radio signal 19 And a transponder 102 for retransmitting

前記トランスポンダ１０２が、少なくとも、受信手段２１と、発信手段２２と、制御手段２４と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとを有し、前記受信手段２１が、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を第１のアンテナ２５ａを介して受信し、受信した無線信号１８から第１の測定信号を再生し、前記制御手段２４が、少なくとも、前記再生した第１の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段２２が、前記生成された第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信し、 The transponder 102 includes at least a receiving means 21, a transmitting means 22, a control means 24, and a first antenna 25a and a second antenna 25b whose coupling between each other is small. The wireless signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 is received via the first antenna 25a, the first measurement signal is reproduced from the received wireless signal 18, and the control means 24 at least reproduces the reproduced first signal. Generating a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to one measurement signal, and the transmitting means 22 retransmits the radio signal 19 including the generated second measurement signal;

前記質問器１０１が、少なくとも、発信手段１１と、受信手段１２と、局発信号発振器１３と、制御手段１４と、前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４と距離算出手段９５と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナアンテナ１５ｂとを有し、前記制御手段１４が、少なくとも前記第１の測定信号を含む距離測定要求信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記制御手段１４が生成した距離測定要求信号によって、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調された無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて発信し、 The interrogator 101 includes at least a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, a local oscillation signal oscillator 13, a control unit 14, a phase measurement unit 94 and a distance calculation unit 95 included in the control unit 14. The first antenna 15a and the second antenna antenna 15b, the control means 14 generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal, the transmission means 11 The local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator 13 is modulated by the distance measurement request signal generated by the control means 14, and the modulated radio signal 18 is directed to the space via the first antenna 15a. Outgoing,

前記受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信される前記第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を、前記第２のアンテナ１５ｂを介して受信し、前記受信した無線信号１９から前記第２の測定信号を選択して再生し、前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４が、前記自局で生成した第１の測定信号を基準として、前記分離しかつ再生された第２の測定信号の位相を、高精度でかつリアルタイムで測定し、前記位相の測定結果から、前記制御手段１４に含まれる距離算出手段９５が前記トランスポンダ１０２までの距離を高精度で算出することができる。 The receiving means 12 receives a radio signal 19 including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder 102 via the second antenna 15b, and receives the second radio signal 19 from the received radio signal 19 The measurement signal is selected and reproduced, and the phase measurement means 94 included in the control means 14 uses the first measurement signal generated by the local station as a reference and the second measurement signal separated and reproduced. The phase can be measured with high accuracy in real time, and the distance calculation means 95 included in the control means 14 can calculate the distance to the transponder 102 with high accuracy from the measurement result of the phase.

図７に例示するごとく、前記質問器１０１から発信される第１の測定信号を含む無線信号１８ａは周期的なデジタル信号で変調されたＡＳＫ信号であり、前記デジタル信号を復調しフイルタを通すと第１の測定信号１８ｂが正弦波信号として出力される。一方、前記トランスポンダ１０２から発信される第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９ａは周期的なデジタル信号で変調されたＡＳＫ信号であり、前記デジタル信号を復調しフイルタを通すと第２の測定信号１９ｂが正弦波信号として出力される。ここで、前記第２の測定信号の周波数を前記第１の測定信号の２分の１の周波数とすると、両者の位相差２０はπ／４となる。 As illustrated in FIG. 7, the radio signal 18a including the first measurement signal transmitted from the interrogator 101 is an ASK signal modulated with a periodic digital signal, and when the digital signal is demodulated and passed through a filter. The first measurement signal 18b is output as a sine wave signal. On the other hand, the radio signal 19a including the second measurement signal transmitted from the transponder 102 is an ASK signal modulated by a periodic digital signal. When the digital signal is demodulated and passed through a filter, the second measurement signal 19b is transmitted. Is output as a sine wave signal. Here, if the frequency of the second measurement signal is half the frequency of the first measurement signal, the phase difference 20 between them is π / 4.

前記第１の測定信号を、Ａｓｉｎ（２πｆ１ｔ）とし、前記質問器１０１とトランスポンダ１０２との間の距離をＤ（ｍ）とすると、前記トランスポンダ１０２で受信する前記第１の測定信号は、Ｂｓｉｎ｛２πｆ１ｔ−２πＤ（ｆ１／Ｃ）｝となる。ここで、Ｃは光の速度とする。
前記トランスポンダ１０２において、カウンタもしくは分周期７４を用いて、受信した前記第１の測定信号の周波数を２分の１にカウントダウンして第２の測定信号を生成すると、前記第２の測定信号は、Ｂｓｉｎ｛２π（ｆ１／２）ｔ−（２πＤｆ１／２Ｃ）−（π／４）｝となり、これを再発信して前記質問器１０１で受信すると、Ｃｓｉｎ｛２π（ｆ１／２）ｔ−２πＤ（ｆ１／２Ｃ）−２πＤ（ｆ１／２Ｃ）−（π／４）｝＝Ｃｓｉｎ｛２π（ｆ１／２）ｔ−２πＤ（ｆ１／Ｃ）−（π／４）｝となる。
前記質問器１０１で生成した前記第１の測定信号を基準として、前記質問器１０１で受信した前記第２の測定信号との位相差ΔΦを測定すると、ΔΦ＝２πＤ（ｆ１／Ｃ）−（π／４）から、距離Ｄ（ｍ）は、Ｄ＝（Ｃ／３）｛（ΔΦ−（π／４））／２πｆ１）｝となる。 When the first measurement signal is Asin (2πf1t) and the distance between the interrogator 101 and the transponder 102 is D (m), the first measurement signal received by the transponder 102 is Bsin { 2πf1t−2πD (f1 / C)}. Here, C is the speed of light.
When the transponder 102 generates a second measurement signal by counting down the frequency of the received first measurement signal by half using a counter or a minute period 74, the second measurement signal is: Bsin {2π (f1 / 2) t− (2πDf1 / 2C) − (π / 4)}, and when this is retransmitted and received by the interrogator 101, Csin {2π (f1 / 2) t−2πD ( f1 / 2C) -2 [pi] D (f1 / 2C)-([pi] / 4)} = Csin {2 [pi] (f1 / 2) t-2 [pi] D (f1 / C)-([pi] / 4)}.
When the phase difference ΔΦ with respect to the second measurement signal received by the interrogator 101 is measured using the first measurement signal generated by the interrogator 101 as a reference, ΔΦ = 2πD (f1 / C) − (π / 4), the distance D (m) becomes D = (C / 3) {(ΔΦ− (π / 4)) / 2πf1)}.

なお、前記質問器１０１の受信手段１２では、前記第１の測定信号と前記第２の測定信号とが同時に再生されるので、周波数選択手段を用いて、周波数が２分の１である前記第２の測定信号のみを選択して位相を測定する必要がある。ここで、第２の測定信号の周波数を低く設定したのは、高調波による誤動作を防ぐためである。
また、前記質問器１０１の受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信された無線信号１９を受信して、周波数変換処理を行うための周波数変換処理手段を備え、前記無線信号１９をＩ信号とＱ信号とに変換する。 In the receiving unit 12 of the interrogator 101, since the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal are reproduced simultaneously, the frequency selection unit is used to reduce the frequency of the first measurement signal to one half. It is necessary to select only two measurement signals and measure the phase. Here, the reason why the frequency of the second measurement signal is set low is to prevent malfunction due to harmonics.
Further, the receiving means 12 of the interrogator 101 includes frequency conversion processing means for receiving the radio signal 19 retransmitted from the transponder 102 and performing frequency conversion processing, and the radio signal 19 is converted into an I signal. Convert to Q signal.

また、前記質問器１０１、トランスポンダ１０２、もしくはこれらの両方の受信手段１２、２１が、無線信号１８、１９の伝搬経路の品質を検知する品質検知手段（記載せず）を有し、前記品質検知手段が、前記受信手段１２、２１において受信した無線信号１８、１９の電力あるいは信号対雑音比を測定した結果から回線品質を分析し、前記距離測定の結果をフイルタリングし、補正し、あるいは補完する。 Further, the interrogator 101, the transponder 102, or both of the receiving means 12 and 21 have quality detecting means (not shown) for detecting the quality of the propagation path of the radio signals 18 and 19, and the quality detecting The means analyzes the line quality from the result of measuring the power or signal-to-noise ratio of the radio signals 18, 19 received by the receiving means 12, 21, and filters, corrects, or complements the result of the distance measurement. To do.

また、前記質問器１０１において、前記第２ｎの測定信号を自局で生成して無線信号を発信手段１１によって変調し、前記変調した無線信号を受信手段１２によって直接受信し、あるいは前記第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナ１５ｂとを介して発信しかつ受信して距離を測定し、前記距離の測定結果から、前記質問器１０１によって生じる距離の測定誤差の補正値を求める。
また、前記トランスポンダ１０２において、少なくとも自局における遅延誤差もしくは距離の測定誤差に関する個別情報をメモリに記憶しており、前記質問器からの質問に応答し、前記個別情報を回答する。
Further, in the interrogator 101, the 2n-th measurement signal is generated by the own station and a radio signal is modulated by the transmitting means 11, and the modulated radio signal is directly received by the receiving means 12, or the first A distance is measured by transmitting and receiving via the antenna 15a and the second antenna 15b, and a correction value of a distance measurement error caused by the interrogator 101 is obtained from the distance measurement result.
Further, the transponder 102 stores at least individual information regarding a delay error or a distance measurement error at its own station, and responds to the question from the interrogator and answers the individual information.

（実施の形態２）
図１および図７は本発明の第２の実施の形態による距離測定装置の構成図であり、前記トランスポンダ１０２が、少なくとも、受信手段２１と、発信手段２２と、制御手段２４と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとを有し、前記受信手段２１が、前記質問器１０１から発信される無線信号１８を第１のアンテナを介して受信し、受信した無線信号１８から第１の測定信号を再生し、前記制御手段２４が、少なくとも、前記再生した第１の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段２２が、前記生成された第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信し、 (Embodiment 2)
FIGS. 1 and 7 are configuration diagrams of a distance measuring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The transponder 102 includes at least a receiving means 21, a transmitting means 22, a control means 24, and The first antenna 25a and the second antenna 25b having a small coupling are provided, and the receiving means 21 receives the radio signal 18 transmitted from the interrogator 101 via the first antenna and receives the received radio signal. A first measurement signal is reproduced from the signal 18, the control means 24 generates at least a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced first measurement signal, and the transmitting means 22 Retransmit the radio signal 19 including the generated second measurement signal;

前記質問器１０１が、少なくとも、発信手段１１と、受信手段１２と、局発信号発振器１３と、制御手段１４と、前記制御手段１４に含まれる位相測定手段９４と同期発振器９５と、相互間の結合が小さい第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナアンテナ１５ｂとを有し、前記制御手段１４が、少なくとも前記第１の測定信号を含む距離測定要求信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記制御手段１４が生成した距離測定要求信号によって、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調した無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて発信し、 The interrogator 101 includes at least a transmission unit 11, a reception unit 12, a local oscillation signal oscillator 13, a control unit 14, a phase measurement unit 94 and a synchronous oscillator 95 included in the control unit 14, and The control unit 14 generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal, and the transmission unit 11 includes the first antenna 15a and the second antenna antenna 15b having a small coupling. The local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator 13 is modulated by the distance measurement request signal generated by the control means 14, and the modulated radio signal 18 is transmitted to the space via the first antenna 15a. And

前記受信手段１２が、前記トランスポンダ１０２から再発信される前記第２の測定信号を含む無線信号１９を、前記第２のアンテナ１５ｂを介して受信し、前記受信した無線信号１９から前記第２の測定信号を選択して再生し、前記制御手段１４に含まれる同期発振器９５が、前記再生した第２の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第３の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１が、前記生成した第３の測定信号によって、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を変調し、前記変調した無線信号１８を前記第１のアンテナ１５ａを介して空間に向けて再発信し、 The receiving means 12 receives a radio signal 19 including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder 102 via the second antenna 15b, and receives the second radio signal 19 from the received radio signal 19 A measurement signal is selected and reproduced, and a synchronous oscillator 95 included in the control unit 14 generates a third measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced second measurement signal. The local measurement signal supplied from the local signal generator 13 is modulated by the generated third measurement signal, and the modulated radio signal 18 is retransmitted toward the space via the first antenna 15a. ,

また、前記質問器１０１の発信手段１１が、前記局発信号発振器１３から供給される局発信号を、前記距離測定要求信号によって、振幅変調、周波数変調、位相変調、もしくはこれらの組み合わせを行なう。
また、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、搬送波信号、副搬送波信号、変調信号、スペクトル拡散符号、ベースバンド信号、もしくはこれらの組合せである。 Further, the transmission means 11 of the interrogator 101 performs amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation, or a combination thereof on the local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator 13 by the distance measurement request signal.
The (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them are a carrier signal, a subcarrier signal, a modulation signal, a spread spectrum code, a baseband signal, or a combination thereof.

また、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、単一周波数のアナログ信号、あるいは単一チップレートのデジタル信号である。
また、前記質問器１０１の制御手段１４に含まれる同期発振器が、セットもしくはリセット付きのカウンタによって構成され、前記受信手段が再生した第２ｎの測定信号の立上り点、立下り点、もしくはゼロ交差点のタイミングでセットされあるいはリセットされ、前記受信手段１２が再生した第２ｎの測定信号を逓倍し、かつ前記第２ｎの測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を生成する。
The (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them are a single frequency analog signal or a single chip rate digital signal.
Further, the synchronous oscillator included in the control means 14 of the interrogator 101 is constituted by a counter with a set or a reset, and the rising point, falling point, or zero crossing point of the 2n measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means It is set or reset at the timing, and the 2n-th measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means 12 is multiplied and a (2n-1) -th measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the 2n-th measurement signal is generated.

図２は本発明のトランスポンダの構成図であり、２５ａは第１のアンテナ、２５ｂは第２のアンテナ、７１は復調器、７２はフイルタ、７３はゼロ交差検出器、７４は分周器、７５はスイッチ、７６は整流用ダイオード、７７ａ、７７ｂはＤＣ電源、７８ａ、７８ｂはグランド、７９ａ、７９ｂは終端抵抗であり、前記以外に、マイコン、メモリ、およびその他の必要な回路を含むものとする。 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transponder according to the present invention, in which 25a is a first antenna, 25b is a second antenna, 71 is a demodulator, 72 is a filter, 73 is a zero-crossing detector, 74 is a frequency divider, 75 Is a switch, 76 is a rectifying diode, 77a and 77b are DC power supplies, 78a and 78b are grounds, 79a and 79b are terminating resistors, and include a microcomputer, a memory, and other necessary circuits.

第１のアンテナ２５ａにより受信した無線信号１８を、整流用ダイオード７６によって整流して前記トランスポンダ１０２にＤＣ電源を供給し、前記受信手段２１の復調器７１によって再生し、フイルタ７２によって選択した第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を、ゼロ交差検出器７３を用いてデジタル信号に変換し、前記変換したデジタル信号を分周器もしくはクンタ７４を用いて整数分の１に分周し、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号と同期しあるいは直交する第２の測定信号を生成し、前記トランスポンダ１０２の発信手段２２が、前記生成した第２ｎの測定信号に対応して、前記第２のアンテナ２５ｂを短絡し、あるいは整合するインピーダンスで終端し、前記質問器１０１から受信する無線信号１８を反射させあるいは吸収させて、前記第２ｎの測定信号を含む無線信号１９を再発信する。 The radio signal 18 received by the first antenna 25a is rectified by the rectifying diode 76, supplied with DC power to the transponder 102, reproduced by the demodulator 71 of the receiving means 21, and selected by the filter 72 ( 2n-1) is converted into a digital signal using a zero-crossing detector 73, and the converted digital signal is divided by an integer using a divider or Kunter 74, 2n-1) to generate a second measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the measurement signal, and the transmitting means 22 of the transponder 102 corresponds to the generated second n measurement signal and the second antenna 25b. Are short-circuited or terminated with matching impedance, and the second radio signal 18 received from the interrogator 101 is reflected or absorbed to To recall the radio signal 19 containing the signal of the measurement.

ここで、復調器７１は、ＡＳＫ信号の復調器、あるいはその他のアナログ信号もしくはデジタル信号の復調器を含み、フイルタ７２は帯域通過フイルタであり、かつアナログフイルタもしくはデジタルフイルタであり、ゼロ交差検出器７５は、コンパレータもしくはアナログデジタル変換器であり、分周器７４は、アナログ式の分周器もしくはデジタルカウンタである。 Here, the demodulator 71 includes an ASK signal demodulator, or other analog or digital signal demodulator, the filter 72 is a band-pass filter, and is an analog filter or a digital filter, and a zero-crossing detector. 75 is a comparator or analog-digital converter, and the frequency divider 74 is an analog frequency divider or digital counter.

また、整流用ダイオード７６は、第２のアンテナ２５ｂにも追加して設けることで、アンテナの指向性によってＤＣ電源の供給が滞ることを防止することができる。他に、内部に設けた電源あるいは外部に設けた電源からも供給することも可能である。
また、スイッチ７５は、上記の第２の測定信号の他に、システム同期信号、識別信号、応答信号、その他の必要なデジタル信号を含む無線信号を発信するものとする。
Further, the rectifying diode 76 is additionally provided for the second antenna 25b, so that it is possible to prevent the supply of DC power from being delayed due to the directivity of the antenna. In addition, it is also possible to supply power from an internal power source or an external power source.
In addition to the second measurement signal, the switch 75 transmits a radio signal including a system synchronization signal, an identification signal, a response signal, and other necessary digital signals.

図３は本発明のトランスポンダの他の構成図であり、２５ａは第１のアンテナ、２５ｂは第２のアンテナ、７１は復調器、７２はフイルタ、７３はゼロ交差検出器、７４はカウンタ、７６は整流用ダイオード、７７ａ、７７ｂ、７７ｃはＤＣ電源、７８ａ、７８ｂ、７８ｃはグランド、７９は内部電池、１２１は増幅器、１２２は変調器であり、前記以外に、マイコン、メモリ、およびその他の必要な回路を含むものとする。 FIG. 3 shows another configuration of the transponder according to the present invention, in which 25a is a first antenna, 25b is a second antenna, 71 is a demodulator, 72 is a filter, 73 is a zero-crossing detector, 74 is a counter, 76 Is a rectifier diode, 77a, 77b and 77c are DC power supplies, 78a, 78b and 78c are grounds, 79 is an internal battery, 121 is an amplifier, and 122 is a modulator. Including a simple circuit.

第１のアンテナ２５ａにより受信した無線信号１８を、整流用ダイオード７６によって整流して前記トランスポンダ１０２にＤＣ電源を供給するとともに、内部電池もしくは外部電池７９を充電し、復調器７１によって復調して前記第１の測定信号を再生し、フイルタ７２によって前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を選択して雑音成分を除去し、ゼロ交差検出器７３によって前記選択した第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号をデジタル信号に変換し、分周器もしくはカウンタ７４によって整数分の１、例えば２分の１、の周波数に分周して第２ｎの測定信号を生成し、一方、前記第１のアンテナ２５ａにより受信した無線信号１８を増幅器１２１によって増幅し、前記増幅した無線信号１８を、前記第２の測定信号に対応して、変調器１２２を設けて変調し、第２のアンテナ２５ｂを介して無線信号１９を再発信する。 The radio signal 18 received by the first antenna 25a is rectified by a rectifier diode 76 to supply DC power to the transponder 102, and an internal battery or an external battery 79 is charged, demodulated by a demodulator 71 and demodulated. A first measurement signal is reproduced, the (2n-1) measurement signal is selected by the filter 72 to remove noise components, and the selected (2n-1) measurement signal is selected by the zero crossing detector 73. Is converted into a digital signal, and divided by a frequency divider or counter 74 to a frequency of an integer, for example, a half, to generate a 2n-th measurement signal, while the first antenna 25a The received radio signal 18 is amplified by an amplifier 121, and the amplified radio signal 18 is changed by providing a modulator 122 corresponding to the second measurement signal. And, re-transmitting the radio signal 19 via the second antenna 25b.

また、前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号、第２ｎの測定信号、もしくはこれらの両方が、無線信号の搬送波信号あるいは副搬送波信号である場合には、直接、群遅延歪みの少ない帯域通過フイルタを通し、あるいは無線信号の搬送波信号あるいは副搬送波信号を変調した変調信号もしくは拡散符号である場合には、遅延誤差の少ないアナログ復調器もしくは高い周波数のクロック信号を用いた遅延誤差の少ないデジタル復調器によって復調した後に、前記帯域通過フイルタを通して再生する。
Further, when the (2n-1) -th measurement signal, the 2n-th measurement signal, or both of them are a carrier signal or a subcarrier signal of a radio signal, the band-pass filter with less group delay distortion is directly used. Or an analog demodulator with a small delay error or a digital demodulator with a small delay error using a high-frequency clock signal when the signal is a modulated signal or spreading code obtained by modulating a carrier signal or subcarrier signal of a radio signal And demodulating it through the band-pass filter.

図４、図５は本発明のトランスポンダの断面図であり、１０２はＩＣチップ、２５ａは第１のアンテナ、２５ｂは第２のアンテナ、１０３はプリント基板もしくは高誘電率基板、１０４はメタライズもしくは金属板である。
図４では、トランスポンダ１０２を通常のプリント基板１０３上に組み込んだものであり、第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂとが、相互間の結合を最少とするために、お互いに偏波面を直交させてプリント基板の表面に構成され、あるいは図４とは別にお互いに垂直方向に間隔を置いてプリント基板の表面に構成され、ＩＣチップ１０２が中央部に組み立てられている。 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the transponder of the present invention, where 102 is an IC chip, 25a is a first antenna, 25b is a second antenna, 103 is a printed circuit board or a high dielectric constant substrate, and 104 is metallized or metal. It is a board.
In FIG. 4, the transponder 102 is incorporated on a normal printed circuit board 103, and the first antenna 25a and the second antenna 25b have their polarization planes mutually reduced in order to minimize mutual coupling. It is formed on the surface of the printed circuit board so as to be orthogonal to each other, or is formed on the surface of the printed circuit board so as to be perpendicular to each other separately from FIG. 4, and the IC chip 102 is assembled at the center.

前記アンテナ７５ａ、７５ｂはダイポールアンテナとして例示しているが、ループアンテナその他のアンテナを用いることも可能である。
また、プリント基板は、フレキシブルであり、多様な形状の物品に装着できる構造となっている。 Although the antennas 75a and 75b are illustrated as dipole antennas, loop antennas or other antennas may be used.
Moreover, the printed circuit board is flexible and has a structure that can be attached to articles of various shapes.

一方、図５では、トランスポンダ１０２を高誘電率の基板１０３の表面に第１のアンテナ２５ａと第２のアンテナ２５ｂを、お互いに直交させて高誘電率のプリント基板の表面に構成し、あるいは図５とは別にお互いに垂直方向に間隔を置いて高誘電率のプリント基板の表面に構成し、かつ少なくとも裏面の一部もしくは全部に、プリントパターンを残し、メタライズし、あるいは金属板を貼り付ける構造となっており、金属性の物品に装着できる特徴を有する。
また、アンテナ２４ａ、２４ｂの形状を変形させ、全体として小型化を実現することも可能である。
On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the transponder 102 is formed on the surface of the high dielectric constant substrate 103 and the first antenna 25a and the second antenna 25b are arranged on the surface of the high dielectric constant printed circuit board so as to be orthogonal to each other. A structure in which a printed circuit board having a high dielectric constant is formed on the front surface of the printed circuit board with a space in the vertical direction apart from 5 and a printed pattern is left, metallized, or a metal plate is attached to at least part or all of the back surface. And has a feature that can be attached to a metallic article.
It is also possible to reduce the size of the antennas 24a and 24b as a whole by changing the shape of the antennas 24a and 24b.

図６、図７は本発明の質問器の構成図であり、１０１は質問器、１１は発信手段、１２は受信手段、１３は局発信号発振手段、１４は制御手段、１５ａは第１のアンテナ、１５ｂは第２のアンテナ、８１ａ、８１ｂは平衡変調器、８２はπ／２移相器、８３は加算器、８４は電力増幅器、８５はゼロ交差検出器、８６はフイルタ、８７は加算器、８８ａ、８８ｂは平衡変調器、８９はπ／２移相器、９０は低雑音増幅器、９１は基準発振器、９２は符号化器、９３は距離算出器、９４は位相測定器、９５は同期発振器である。 FIGS. 6 and 7 are configuration diagrams of the interrogator of the present invention, 101 is an interrogator, 11 is a transmission means, 12 is a reception means, 13 is a local oscillation signal oscillation means, 14 is a control means, and 15a is a first. Antenna, 15b is a second antenna, 81a and 81b are balanced modulators, 82 is a π / 2 phase shifter, 83 is an adder, 84 is a power amplifier, 85 is a zero-crossing detector, 86 is a filter, and 87 is an adder 88a and 88b are balanced modulators, 89 is a π / 2 phase shifter, 90 is a low noise amplifier, 91 is a reference oscillator, 92 is an encoder, 93 is a distance calculator, 94 is a phase measurer, and 95 is It is a synchronous oscillator.

制御手段１４において、基準発振器９１から出力されるクロック信号によって、符号化器９２が第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を生成し、発信手段１１において、平衡変調器８８１ａ、８１ｂによって、基準発振器９１と局発信号発振手段１３とπ／２移相器８２で生成される局発信号を変調して加算器８３で加算し（例示ではＡＳＫ変調）、電力増幅器８４によって必要な電力まで増幅し、第１のアンテナ１５ａから無線信号１８として空間に放射される。 In the control means 14, the encoder 92 generates a (2n−1) -th measurement signal based on the clock signal output from the reference oscillator 91. The local oscillation signal generated by the local oscillation signal oscillating means 13 and the π / 2 phase shifter 82 is modulated and added by the adder 83 (ASK modulation in the example), and amplified to the required power by the power amplifier 84, Radiated as a radio signal 18 from the first antenna 15a into the space.

一方、トランスポンダ１０２から再発信された無線信号１９は、第２のアンテナ１５ｂによって受信され、低雑音増幅器９０で増幅され、平衡変調器８８ａ、８８ｂによって前記局発信号とミキシングされ、加算器８７によって加算され、フイルタ８６によって第２ｎの測定信号が選択され、ゼロ交差検出器８５でデジタル信号に変換されて再生される。 On the other hand, the radio signal 19 retransmitted from the transponder 102 is received by the second antenna 15 b, amplified by the low noise amplifier 90, mixed with the local signal by the balanced modulators 88 a and 88 b, and added by the adder 87. The second n measurement signals are selected by the filter 86, converted into a digital signal by the zero crossing detector 85, and reproduced.

図６では、前記再生された第２の測定信号の位相が、前記第１の測定信号を基準として、前記位相測定器９４によって測定され、前記測定された第２の測定信号の位相から前記距離算出手段９３によって、トランスポンダ１０２までの距離を算出して２分の１することで、質問器１０１とトランスポンダ１０２との間の片道の距離が算出できる。
一方、図７では、前記再生された第２ｎの測定信号と同期発振器９５との同期を確立し保持させた状態で、第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を生成し、前記発信手段１１によって前記第（２ｎ−１）の測定信号を含む無線信号１８が発信され、前記トランスポンダ１０２によって第２ｎの測定信号に変換されて再発信され、受信手段１２によって再生され、以下同様な手順で繰返すことができる。 In FIG. 6, the phase of the reproduced second measurement signal is measured by the phase measuring device 94 with reference to the first measurement signal, and the distance from the phase of the measured second measurement signal is measured. The calculation means 93 calculates the distance to the transponder 102 and halves it, whereby the one-way distance between the interrogator 101 and the transponder 102 can be calculated.
On the other hand, in FIG. 7, the (2n-1) th measurement signal is generated in a state where the synchronization between the reproduced 2nth measurement signal and the synchronous oscillator 95 is established and held. A radio signal 18 including the (2n-1) th measurement signal is transmitted, converted into a second n measurement signal by the transponder 102, retransmitted, reproduced by the receiving means 12, and thereafter repeated in the same procedure. it can.

前記同期発振器９５は、例えば、セットもしくはリセット付きカウンタであり、前記第２ｎの測定信号の立上り点、立下り点、もしくはゼロ交差点のタイミングで前記カウンタをセットしあるいはリセットすることにより数マイクロ秒以内の瞬時に同期を確立でき、前記第２ｎの測定信号が停止した場合でも長時間同期を保持できる。
前記シーケンスが複数回繰返されて、再生された第２ｎの測定信号の位相が、前記最初に生成された第１の測定信号を基準として、前記位相測定器９４によって測定され、前記測定された第２ｎの測定信号の位相から前記距離算出手段９３によって、トランスポンダ１０２までの２ｎ倍の距離に拡大されて算出されるので、例えば、質問器１０１からトランスポンダ１０２までの距離が短いにも係わらず、あるいは測定信号の周波数が比較的に低い場合でも、高精度で距離を算出することができ、複数回の測定の平均を求めることで誤差を低減できるメリットが得られる。 The synchronous oscillator 95 is, for example, a counter with a set or reset, and within a few microseconds by setting or resetting the counter at the timing of the rising point, falling point, or zero crossing of the second n measurement signal. Synchronization can be established instantly, and synchronization can be maintained for a long time even when the second n-th measurement signal is stopped.
The phase of the 2n-th measurement signal reproduced by repeating the sequence a plurality of times is measured by the phase measuring device 94 with reference to the first measurement signal generated first, and the measured second measurement signal is measured. Since the distance calculation unit 93 calculates the 2n measurement signal from the phase of the 2n measurement signal by expanding to a distance 2n times from the transponder 102, for example, although the distance from the interrogator 101 to the transponder 102 is short, or Even when the frequency of the measurement signal is relatively low, the distance can be calculated with high accuracy, and an advantage can be obtained that an error can be reduced by obtaining an average of a plurality of measurements.

ここで、前記質問器１０１の第１のアンテナ１５ａと、第２のアンテナ１５ｂとが高誘電率円偏波指向性セラミックアンテナとすることで、両者間のアイソレーションを大きくすることができ、又、前記トランスポンダ１０２において、アンテナの向きに関係無く、良好な受信ができるメリットが得られる。 Here, since the first antenna 15a and the second antenna 15b of the interrogator 101 are high dielectric constant circularly polarized directivity ceramic antennas, the isolation between the two can be increased. In the transponder 102, the merit of good reception can be obtained regardless of the direction of the antenna.

また、前記質問器１０１の位相測定手段９４が、前記第２ｎの測定信号を４の整数倍の周波数でサンプリングし、かつ４ビット以上のアナログデジタル変換器を用いてデジタル信号に変換し、Ｓｉｎのルックアップテーブルとして０、１、０、−１、もしくは１、１、−１、−１、を用い、Ｃｏｓのルックアップテーブルとして１、０、−１、０もしくは１、−１、−１、１、を用い、前記変換したデジタル信号とルックアップテーブルとの積和演算を行い、リアルタイムで位相を測定することができる。 Further, the phase measuring means 94 of the interrogator 101 samples the 2n-th measurement signal at a frequency that is an integer multiple of 4 and converts it into a digital signal using an analog-digital converter of 4 bits or more. Use 0, 1, 0, -1 or 1, 1, -1, -1 as the lookup table, and 1, 0, -1, 0 or 1, -1, -1, as the Cos lookup table 1 can be used to perform a product-sum operation on the converted digital signal and the look-up table to measure the phase in real time.

また、ＡＳＫ変調の他にも、ＰＳＫ変調など他の変調方式を採用することも可能であり、第１のアンテナ１５ａと第２のアンテナ１５ｂをサーキュレータなどのアンテナ共用器を用いることで、単一のアンテナを用いることも可能である。
また、ゼロ交差検出器９０として、コンパレータもしくはアナログデジタル変換器を用いる。
In addition to ASK modulation, other modulation schemes such as PSK modulation can also be adopted, and the first antenna 15a and the second antenna 15b can be integrated by using an antenna duplexer such as a circulator. It is also possible to use other antennas.
Further, a comparator or an analog / digital converter is used as the zero crossing detector 90.

以上の説明では、単一の周波数の距離測定信号を発信する場合について説明したが、この場合、ΔΦの変化を０＜ΔΦ＜２πに制限する必要がある。そこで、前記第１の測定信号の周波数を複数の段階で変化させることで、任意の測定レンジが自動的に選択できるメリットが得られる。
また、超広帯域通信方式（ウルトラワイドバンド）を用いることで、第１の測定信号と第２の測定信号に高い周波数の変調信号あるいは高いチップレートの拡散符号を採用できるので、例えば、１５ＭＨｚの変調信号を用いれば、測定レンジを片道で１０ｍ以下の短い距離に設定できることから、ＲＦＩＤタグまでの詳細な距離を測定できるメリットが得られる。 In the above description, the case of transmitting a distance measurement signal having a single frequency has been described. In this case, it is necessary to limit the change in ΔΦ to 0 <ΔΦ <2π. Therefore, by changing the frequency of the first measurement signal in a plurality of stages, there is an advantage that an arbitrary measurement range can be automatically selected.
Further, by using an ultra-wideband communication method (ultra-wide band), a high frequency modulation signal or a high chip rate spreading code can be adopted for the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal. If a signal is used, the measurement range can be set to a short distance of 10 m or less in one way, so that a merit that a detailed distance to the RFID tag can be measured is obtained.

また、前記無線信号として、超音波信号、高周波信号、もしくは光信号を用いることができる。なお、超音波信号もしくは光信号の場合には、アンテナの代わりに、送受波器を用いる。
また、前記トランスポンダ１０２の第１のアンテナと第２のアンテナとの間のアイソレーションが大きいので、増幅器を設けて第１のアンテナで受信した無線信号を増幅し、変調器を設けて第２の測定信号で変調して第２のアンテナから再発信することで、遠距離での測定が可能となる。
Moreover, an ultrasonic signal, a high frequency signal, or an optical signal can be used as the wireless signal. In the case of an ultrasonic signal or an optical signal, a transducer is used instead of an antenna.
Since the isolation between the first antenna and the second antenna of the transponder 102 is large, an amplifier is provided to amplify a radio signal received by the first antenna, and a modulator is provided to provide a second Measurement at a long distance is possible by modulating with the measurement signal and retransmitting from the second antenna.

本発明によれば、上記のように構成されているため、近接した複数のコンベア上を移動する物品に添付されたＲＦＩＤタグを、どのコンベア上かを含めて識別できる。
また、金属製の物品にＲＦＩＤタグを添付した場合でも、タグの内容を読み出すとともに、タグまでの距離を測定することができる。
また、物流管理において、物品を収納した正確な位置を検知する場合にも応用できる。
なお、本発明の距離測定技術は基盤技術であり、上記以外に多分野での利用が期待できる。
According to the present invention, since it is configured as described above, it is possible to identify the RFID tag attached to an article moving on a plurality of adjacent conveyors, including which conveyor it is on.
Even when an RFID tag is attached to a metal article, the contents of the tag can be read and the distance to the tag can be measured.
Further, in logistics management, the present invention can be applied to the case where an accurate position where an article is stored is detected.
Note that the distance measurement technique of the present invention is a basic technique, and can be expected to be used in many other fields.

本発明の距離測定装置の構成図Configuration diagram of the distance measuring device of the present invention 本発明のトランスポンダの構成図Configuration diagram of transponder of the present invention 本発明のトランスポンダの他の構成図Another configuration diagram of the transponder of the present invention 本発明のトランスポンダの断面図Sectional view of the transponder of the present invention 本発明のトランスポンダの他の断面図Another sectional view of the transponder of the present invention 本発明の第１の実施の形態による質問器の構成図The block diagram of the interrogator by the 1st Embodiment of this invention 本発明の第２の実施の形態による質問器の構成図The block diagram of the interrogator by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention 本発明の測定信号の波形を示す図The figure which shows the waveform of the measurement signal of this invention 従来の実施例を示す構成図Configuration diagram showing a conventional example

１０１質問器
１０２トランスポンダ
１１発信手段
１２受信手段
１３局発信号発振器
１４制御手段
１５ａ、１５ｂアンテナ
１８第１の測定信号
１９第２の測定信号
２１発信手段
２２受信手段
２４制御手段
２５ａ、２５ｂアンテナ DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Interrogator 102 Transponder 11 Transmission means 12 Reception means 13 Local signal oscillator 14 Control means 15a, 15b Antenna 18 First measurement signal 19 Second measurement signal 21 Transmission means 22 Reception means 24 Control means 25a, 25b Antenna

Claims

In a distance measuring device using a radio signal,
An interrogator for transmitting and receiving the wireless signal;
A transponder for receiving and retransmitting a radio signal transmitted from the interrogator,
The transponder is at least
A receiving means, a transmitting means, a control means, and a first antenna and a second antenna having a small coupling between them;
The reception means receives a radio signal transmitted from the interrogator via a first antenna, reproduces a first measurement signal from the received radio signal,
The control means generates at least a second measurement signal synchronized or orthogonal to the reproduced first measurement signal;
The transmitting means retransmits a radio signal including the generated second measurement signal;
The interrogator is at least
A transmission means, a reception means, a local oscillation signal oscillator, a control means, a distance calculation means and a phase measurement means included in the control means, a first antenna and a second antenna antenna having a small coupling with each other; Have
The control means generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal;
The transmitting means modulates a local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator by a distance measurement request signal generated by the control means, and directs the modulated radio signal to space via the first antenna. Outgoing,
The receiving means receives a radio signal including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder via the second antenna, and selects the second measurement signal from the received radio signal. And play
The phase measuring means included in the control means measures the phase of the separated and reproduced second measurement signal with high accuracy and in real time with reference to the first measurement signal generated by the local station. The distance measurement device characterized in that the distance to the transponder is calculated with high accuracy from the phase measurement result by the distance calculation means included in the control means.

The transponder is at least
A receiving means, a transmitting means, a control means, and a first antenna and a second antenna having a small coupling between them;
The reception means receives a radio signal transmitted from the interrogator via a first antenna, reproduces a first measurement signal from the received radio signal,
The control means generates at least a second measurement signal synchronized or orthogonal to the reproduced first measurement signal;
The transmitting means retransmits a radio signal including the generated second measurement signal;
The receiving means receives a radio signal transmitted from the interrogator via a first antenna, and reproduces a third measurement signal from the received radio signal;
The control means generates at least a fourth measurement signal synchronized or orthogonal to the reproduced third measurement signal;
The transmitting means retransmits a radio signal including the generated fourth measurement signal;
The interrogator is at least
Transmission means, reception means, local signal oscillator, control means, distance calculation means included in the control means, phase measurement means, synchronous oscillator, first antenna and second An antenna and
The control means generates a distance measurement request signal including at least the first measurement signal;
The transmitting means modulates a local signal supplied from the local signal oscillator by a distance measurement request signal generated by the control means, and directs the modulated radio signal to space via the first antenna. Outgoing,
The receiving means receives a radio signal including the second measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder via the second antenna, and selects the second measurement signal from the received radio signal. And play
A synchronous oscillator included in the control unit generates a third measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the reproduced second measurement signal;
The transmitting means modulates a local oscillation signal supplied from the local oscillation signal oscillator by the generated third measurement signal, and re-modulates the modulated radio signal toward the space via the first antenna. Outgoing,
The receiving means receives a radio signal including the fourth measurement signal retransmitted from the transponder via the second antenna, and selects the fourth measurement signal from the received radio signal. And play
The above sequence is repeated a plurality of times between the interrogator and the transponder,
The phase measurement means included in the control means of the interrogator uses the first measurement signal first generated in the own station as a reference, and the phase of the separated and reproduced second n measurement signal is highly accurate and The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device is measured in real time, and the distance to the transponder is calculated with high accuracy by the distance calculating means included in the control means from the measurement result of the phase.

The control means of the transponder converts the (2n-1) -th measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means into a digital signal using a zero crossing detector, and the converted digital signal using a frequency divider or a counter Divide by an integer and generate a 2n measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the (2n-1) measurement signal, and the transmitting means of the transponder applies the generated 2n measurement signal to the 2n measurement signal. Correspondingly, the second antenna is short-circuited or terminated with matching impedance, the radio signal received from the interrogator is reflected or absorbed, and the radio signal including the second n measurement signal is retransmitted. The distance measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by:

The transmitting means of the transponder amplifies the radio signal received by the first antenna, modulates the amplified radio signal with the 2n measurement signal generated by the control means, and converts the modulated radio signal to the second 4. The distance measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the distance is retransmitted via the antenna.

The transmission means of the interrogator performs amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phase modulation, or a combination thereof on the local oscillation signal supplied from the local oscillation signal oscillator according to the distance measurement request signal. Item 1. The distance measuring device according to item 1 or item 2.

The (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them are a carrier signal, a subcarrier signal, a modulation signal, a spread spectrum code, a baseband signal, or a combination thereof. The distance measuring device according to claim 1 or 2.

2. The (2n-1) th measurement signal, the 2nth measurement signal, or both of them is a single frequency analog signal or a single chip rate digital signal. Alternatively, the distance measuring device according to item 2.

When the (2n-1) -th measurement signal, the 2n-th measurement signal, or both of them are a carrier signal or a subcarrier signal of a radio signal, they are directly passed through a band-pass filter with less group delay distortion. In the case of a modulated signal or spreading code obtained by modulating a carrier signal or subcarrier signal of a radio signal, it is demodulated by an analog demodulator with little delay error or a digital demodulator with little delay error using a high frequency clock signal. 3. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device reproduces through the band pass filter.

The interrogator receiving means includes a frequency conversion processing means for receiving a radio signal retransmitted from the transponder and performing a frequency conversion process, and converts the radio signal into an I signal and a Q signal. The distance measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned.

The synchronous oscillator included in the control unit of the interrogator is configured by a counter with a set or reset, and is set at the timing of the rising point, falling point, or zero crossing point of the 2n measurement signal reproduced by the receiving unit. 3. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device is reset and generates a (2n−1) th measurement signal that is synchronized with or orthogonal to the 2nth measurement signal.

The phase measuring means of the interrogator control means samples the 2n measurement signal reproduced by the receiving means at a frequency that is an integer multiple of 4 and converts it to a digital signal using an analog-digital converter of 4 bits or more. Then, 0, 1, 0, -1, or 1, 1, -1, -1 is used as the Sin lookup table, and 1, 0, -1, 0, or 1, -1 is used as the Cos lookup table. The distance according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a product-sum operation is performed on the converted digital signal and a look-up table, and a phase is measured in real time. measuring device.

The first antenna and the second antenna of the transponder are dipole antennas or loop antennas, and are configured on the surface of the printed circuit board so as to be orthogonal to each other, or on the surface of the printed circuit board spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the distance measuring device is configured as follows.

13. The distance measuring device according to claim 12, wherein a printed pattern is left, metallized, or provided with a metal plate on at least a part or all of the back surface of the printed board to form a ground plate.

A rectifier is provided in the first antenna, the second antenna, or both of the transponders, or an internal power supply or an external power supply is provided to obtain a DC power supply of the transponder. The distance measuring device according to item 1 or item 2.

The distance measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna of the interrogator are high dielectric constant circularly polarized directivity ceramic antennas.

The distance measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the interrogator has an antenna duplexer and shares a single antenna.

The interrogator, the transponder, or both receiving means have quality detecting means for detecting the quality of the propagation path of the radio signal, and the quality detecting means receives the power or signal of the radio signal received by the receiving means. 3. The distance measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a line quality is analyzed from a result of measuring a noise-to-noise ratio, and a result of the distance measurement is filtered, corrected, or complemented. .

In the interrogator, the 2n-th measurement signal is generated by the own station and a radio signal is modulated by a transmitting unit, and the modulated radio signal is directly received by a receiving unit, or the first antenna and the second antenna 3. A distance measured by transmitting and receiving through an antenna and measuring a distance, and a correction value of a distance measurement error caused by the interrogator is obtained from the distance measurement result. The distance measuring device according to item.

The transponder stores at least individual information related to a delay error or a distance measurement error at its own station in a memory, and responds to a question from the interrogator to answer the individual information. The distance measuring device according to item 1 or item 2.